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Monday, March 28, 2016

"Of Sales & Sin," Part 2 - In the second episode of our series on consumption taxes, we take a look at California’s tobacco tax—where it came from, where its revenue goes, and how we might expect it to change in the future.

Friday, October 30, 2015

"Of Sales & Sin," Part 1 - In this episode of the Politi-Cal Podcast—the first entry in our series on consumption taxes—we talk about California’s sales & use tax, including how it works, who pays it, what purchases are affected (or exempt), and why we should think about reform.

Friday, October 2, 2015

The Politi-Cal Podcast will return shortly. In the meantime, let's take the weekend to reflect & ruminate on the tragedy that befell our friends & family in Oregon. Right now, our neighbors to the northdeserve every ounce of love & sympathy we can send their way.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

On September 9th, California celebrated its 165th year as a state. In honor of the Golden State's birthday, this two-part episode of the Politi-Cal Podcast looks at the history of statehood in California.

This includes how California first became a state and how people have tried (over 200 times) to divide it up into more states since then. These efforts range from serious (that time the state legislature and the governor actuallydid vote to split up the state) to silly (that time protesters near the Oregon border stopped traffic and handed out flyers proclaiming their independence) to comically bizarre (that time a professional golfer / actor tried to turn a World War II ship into an independent nation / tax-free seafood processing plant off the California coast). Enjoy!

Friday, September 11, 2015

In the second episode of the Politi-Cal Podcast, we talk about capital punishment in California. We cover the death penalty's rocky history in modern America, how the practice has changed over time, and ways to address the problems that affect it.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

In the first full episode of the Politi-Cal Podcast, we talk about redistricting in California, how we draw the lines around legislative and congressional districts. We cover its history, its effects, and how recent attempts at reform have changed it for good (and, hopefully, for the better).